Supermarket Finds on Letterman, June 28, 1989

By request. Featuring a special find. Also, the Crash-Cam, Jerry Vale, Paul does Ed, and a Top Ten list.
Note: The Pete Townshend performance later in the show is here: • Pete Townshend, "A Fri...

[@adamjosephelkhadem873]

Don, I know posting this stuff is its own reward, but I cannot emphasize enough how much your channel means to me and countless others. Whenever I’m feeling down or blue, your uploads always make me laugh out loud and turn my day around. Here’s to you!

[@ethanbenfield2285]

I grew up on cbs letterman and loved him. Watching these old NBC clips hes just EVEN BETTER and I wish I was alive for it.

[@randall-king]

Same here.

[@kikovazquez7277]

@@randall-king You're right - the extra late show had a less formal "Big Time" vibe than he could capture competing against Leno at 11:30. But he had the advantage of working out of a real street level old theater that was a legend in itself, and he got the neighbors, tourists, and local color on the show, and was able to pull off all kinds of physical stunts and mayhem on Broadway and 53rd. I actually expected him to be more conventional when he made the transition, but no question the CBS show remained 100% saturated with classic Letterman style.

[@randall-king]

@@kikovazquez7277 I agree with you. I think it gave the show longevity. Had he continued to do the same things in the same environment, I don’t think it would’ve lasted as long as it did. That said, I prefer the Late Night format on NBC to the Late Show on CBS. It’s more fun to watch, at least for me.

[@RickinBaltimore]

Maybe I'm alone, but Letterman on NBC just FELT different than when he moved to CBS

[@kaybroughton9004]

Letterman seemed to become more corporate on CBS. While on NBC, he pretty much told us that he would have nothing to do with upper level management...

[@mackdaddyg321]

Agreed. The studio and audience became bigger (along with the band) and I think the intimacy that was there at 12:30 disappeared when he came on an hour earlier.

[@plaws0]

The CBS show was the show he'd been making fun of at NBC (morning and late night versions). I didn't realize that until ... actually not that long ago. Probably since getting my Masters in Letterman by attending Donz U.

[@davemustaki134]

What year did he move to NBC?

[@edb4955]

@@davemustaki134 '93

[@jimwhite9735]

Thanks for posting all of these. I was ten when the NBC show came on and shortly there after we got a VCR. I taped the show every night and watched it the next day as soon as I got home from school. I spent my high school and college years pretty well obsessed with this show. The level of comedy that was shown during these years has never been match in any form of media. It’s proven when you watch these clips now and they are still as fresh as when aired (and in some cases are even funnier with age). It really means a lot to see these especially right now. It brings me back to some really wonderful days that were truly carefree. Again, thank you for this.

[@theresenydahl9531]

Thank you!🌷🌷🌷🌷I used to enjoy those segments so much😀

[@speedfreakjive8843]

Man that band.... So unbelievably great

[@mackdaddyg321]

Don, the collections you put together are always amazing, but seeing bits like this is always a welcome treat. Thanks. Now I need to go find me some o' them dates.

[@cameramanzoomit]

Eat Me Dates was definitely one of the most memorable Supermarket Finds on the show. And while Jerry Vale's version of the theme was good, nothing topped Tom Jones' version. A mind blower! Totally tore the house down.

[@AdrianStalker]

I disagree. I find the Tom Jones version the most generic and boring one. Jonh Denver did a much better one than Tom Jones for example. But this one from this vid is by far the best and haunting one

[@cameramanzoomit]

@@AdrianStalker That's just like, your opinion, man. And btw, what video are you talking about?

[@jamazur10]

The Drifters had a great version as well.

[@ThereIsNoLord]

Thank you, Don! Great job with everything!

[@ulysses1904]

Thanks for all of these postings, Don. I used to tape Letterman on VHS back in the 80s and I would make Xmas compilation tapes for my family and friends and I included this Eat Me Date bit on one of them. I see now just how much better he was on NBC, before he moved to CBS. BTW I was in the studio audience when Madonna made her infamous appearance on his show in 1994.

[@gregmark1688]

Damn, I miss those days. Late night TV was never this good before or after.

[@v8vrooooom]

Love the supermarket finds!

[@thefrontpage]

Why aren't the current late night shows as much fun as this show was from '82 to '97?!

[@stephenstone8480]

Simple...no Letterman...

[@SuperLordHawHaw]

Dave Letterman's supermarket finds is where I first found out about pork brains in a can

[@GrantTarredus]

My grandmother actually ATE that crap, and I’m not joking.

[@deborahwilson4684]

​@@GrantTarredus My late dad ate weird stuff like that too! I tried some of that stuff-- but most of it was just too gross!

[@jedblaugrund597]

Supermarket Finds and other bit based on reality (Small Town News, etc.) were the best because they combined everyday life with Letterman's sarcastic, incredulous, and dry wit.

[@UberNeuman]

Paul missed out on that Batman money but made it for it with the Bermuda music royalties.

[@spuzzlightyeartoo]

God do I ever love Supermarket finds. How many in total were there? Will we see a compilation?.... in time?

[@dongiller]

23 on LN. There it is.

[@wecontrolthevideo]

I had saved a sound clip for years of one supermarket find, it was “The Six Inch Boner” which was a paring knife. I lost that clip 20 plus years ago after dealing with floppies and old hard drives.

[@PatTheBatmanFan]

@@dongiller there was one of these with “Super Mario Brothers” shampoo, I believe. The punchline was “I’m still wearing Pac-Man cologne!”, which I try and work into conversations whenever possible. Any chance of posting it?

[@mgeary0624]

The John Denver supermarket finds was my favorite.

[@BethFlower7889]

This aired 10 days before I was born

[@plaws0]

Stop it.

[@BethFlower7889]

plaws0 it’s true

[@plaws0]

I'm pleased to know that someone SO YOUNG still finds Grampa Dave funny. :-) Lessee ... I was your age when Dave switched to CBS and started the show he'd been making fun of when he was at NBC.

[@BethFlower7889]

plaws0 yes, he’s very funny. I love watching these clips :)

[@ThereIsNoLord]

Eat Me Dates! The official sponsor of the Rob Lowe video. And he DID say "I remember my first eat me date." DON GILLER IS THE BEST!!

[@TheSmurfboard]

This aired around the time I had my first eat me date.

[@mulletforyou]

"I had a jingle session in the morning." Pure Shaffer :D

[@darrentocchet288]

Paul taking a subtle shot at Peter Townshend at 1:48

[@poc-preserverofculture718]

I noticed that too....and the crowd booing did also.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

A friend is a friend, nothing can change that

[@zenosphere5711]

There’s something fishy about those eat me dates.

[@erniebuchinski3614]

Come again? ;-)

[@moxica93]

I think this was the last episode I watched before joining the Navy...

[@bagheerab278]

Coincidentally, this was the first episode I watched the day after I got OUT of the navy!

[@purplefuku]

Good to know that we can still enjoy our Eat Me dates, all these years later! 🤣 www.britishcornershop.co.uk/eat-me-dates-deglet-nour-pitted

[@heyyou9693]

Paul always reminded me of the dad from Alf.

[@HHH-ye1ro]

Love Jerry Vale.

[@HerosTheme]

I was in my mother's womb when this aired

[@davemustaki134]

I wish Dave kept more banter with Paul especially in the later seasons he seemed to just kind of acknowledge him but not joke around as much with him

[@DoyleFuckinHargraves]

The remote control was made by the fine folks at Futaba, if I remember correctly.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

If you were from Ontario or Illinois, pronounced Few-tabba

[@garygronk3863]

Oh, please, please post the Tom Jones version of Supermarket Finds!

[@ernee100]

That advertising company that helped the dates didnt get paid enough.

[@tbx59]

I pray to God this was requested by his proud folks.

[@ThereIsNoLord]

I requested it -- god is fake.

[@firepower782]

I like the Supermarket Finds theme that's a play on Strangers in the Night...

[@davebartosh5]

Colbert's done a fine job, but the Letterman show was a different world. Love watching Dave's stuff.

[@jjryan1352]

They're all trash now. Late night is officially dead and buried.

[@davebartosh5]

@@jjryan1352 I was never into Conan, but watching his stuff now, too. The pandemic's made it harder for them. Only so much you can do with video guests indoors.

[@jjryan1352]

@@davebartosh5 yeah the format was done 10 years ago. The self-deprication "humor" bit they all do was stale 20 years ago. Part of the fun was staying up late to watch it. Now with on demand video 24/7 it has no more charm. Sometimes they do a funny skit or bit, but it's not worth watching the show for. I just watch the clips here on YT.

[@davebartosh5]

@@jjryan1352 Agreed. I don't own a TV. Watch all the clips on KZbin.

[@toddleopold2009]

big German thirst 4:50 ... Heinz vinegar tanker 5:06 ... 😄

[@dhpbear2]

"I remember MY first EAT ME date!"

[@williammeszaros3382]

Back when I was young and good looking

[@wolfchrt]

Do you have any Riquette Hofstein? the make up girl who was always playing footsie with dave

[@dongiller]

She appeared eight times. I have everything.

[@wolfchrt]

@@dongiller I would love to see if u get a chance on uploading

[@erickziglar7967]

How many times was Bob Costas on the show? I remember one appearance that was on the same day as the mlb all star game & bob & dave were making fun of the game being in "stereo".

[@dongiller]

Eleven guest appearances and thirteen cameos. The only date closest to an All Star game was in 1992, when Bob cameo’d on July 7, while the game was a week later. So not a match. I’ll look further when I get the time.

[@djm5687]

It's quite amazing that you know this stuff!

[@joewright9879]

Jerry Vale looks like Jim Bakker or Benny Hinn

[@barrettus]

Anyone else google for info related to the milk cases?

[@plaws0]

I've got some in my office. Stole them from behind the convenience store in the mid-80s. Damn things are indestructable.

[@docwashburn430]

Hey Don, Thanks so much for all you do. I have been trying to figure out what song the band is playing starting at 8:40. It eventually became the theme music they used when Dave would introduce Joan Rivers. Can you please help?

[@dongiller]

Ohio Players “Skin Tight.” The Joan Rivers joke is right there. :) Original recording here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXOqZKSmjs9oercsi=gs3ukL2NV45Fmxlx

[@docwashburn430]

@@dongiller Thank you so much! You have so much going on, I didn't think you would even have time to even see my question. Definitely reminds me of Brick House by the Commodores. I wonder which came first. I'll have to check. Thanks again, Don! I really appreciate your help.

[@holderbee7811]

Best part was Dave's no look pencil flip

[@spuzzlightyeartoo]

I was thinking this morning (yes, I have no life). I wonder if some Supermarket finds etc were built especially around whether someone was dropping in for a musical spot. Say John Denver. He was avail for an appearance, and they could parody "Rocky Mountain High" with "Supermarket Finds" and off they went. So they built a complete comedy segment around a celebrity appearance. It's interesting to think about... to me I guess. lol.

[@spuzzlightyeartoo]

So in other words, the only reason you're seeing Supermarket Finds on that particular show that evening is because of Jerry Vale.

[@JKerr-iy2jr]

His “Supermarket Finds” are always suitably weird.

[@Themilkmanskid.]

Didn't mention "extra quality" on the dates can.

[@thatDonOguy]

I heard Star Trek 5 was bad, but jezzzz....marshmallows!!

[@Kev_Shmev]

Don, can you make A comp. of supermarket finds and small town news?

[@dongiller]

Not any more.

[@wowmachineradio]

Someone downvoted Jerry Vale?

[@dongiller]

Haters gotta hate.

[@andyrose5616]

I didn't downvote, but I'll admit I prefer the Tom Jones version to Jerry's. (Same goes for the Late Night Anthem)

[@cameramanzoomit]

@@andyrose5616 Spot on! Tom Jones' version killed!

[@Football__Junkie]

Big German thirst

[@Scramble187]

Poor George Miller